Engineering Mechanics
Department:
Engineering Sciences Materials Science is only part of a complete failure analysis -- a thorough understanding of Engineering Mechanics is also essential to performing a thorough investigation.
What is Engineering Mechanics? Engineering Mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the state of rest or motion of bodies under the action of forces. It is one of the oldest areas of the physical sciences, and it pervades all aspects of Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering.
Engineering Mechanics lies at the heart of the following areas in which MME specializes:
- Solid mechanics and mechanics of materials
- Fracture mechanics
- Structural engineering
- Vibrations
- Metallurgy
- Polymer engineering and plastics
- Composite materials and structures
- Adhesion science
- Heat transfer
- Finite element analysis (FEA)
MME has several engineers on staff with professional and research experience in mechanics. The Engineering Mechanics practice collaborates with the Metallurgical and Materials Laboratory Testing, Automotive, and Non-Destructive Testing practices to complete projects in Failure Analysis.
Failure Analysis and Prevention
The ability to identify and simulate the loading history of a part or structure and to couple this information with the proper material behavior models is the key to reconstructing failure events and recommending solutions. Oftentimes, this process requires understanding advanced topics, topics that go beyond the typical handbook solutions.
MME is experienced in deriving solutions to complex problems. In particular, MME engineers are trained in advanced FEA simulations in ABAQUS, ANSYS, and NEiNASTRAN. We routinely use FEA to solve problems involving:
- Non-linear material properties
- Large deflections Buckling and complex failure criteria
- Contact interactions
- Solid-fluid interactions
- Impact
- Delamination and crack growth
- Heat transfer